It's not even just the gig economy. Son in law works in maintenance for a large Birmingham hotel. It's not a well paid job. Yesterday he was put on a 3 day week. Today they have asked him to do an overnight role, kind of duty manager but not quite (i.e. not a promotion) for 3 nights instead of maintenance. The hotel is nearly empty apparently so how long that kmay last is anyone's guess.
RoR mentioned his newsagency. All shops around us in the Algarve now appear to be closed, incl the two newsagents just by us, though I have a feeling they may be open for an hour early doors.
Police are apparently stopping cars to seek proof that the journey is essential. Advice is to put a destination into your satnav to at least show you're not just out for a leisure drive. However I imagine the police can probably read social media at least as well as non-police. We went for a few miles walk around the lagoons behind the beach today to see the flamingos. We weren't the only ones out but there really weren't many, and the roads are very quiet.
Earlier I read unsubstantiated reports that all Spanish hotels are being closed and residents kicked out. It may well not be true, but there must be many people stranded already and to remove all lodging is a bit much. Portugal has announced thousands of hotel rooms and other lodging to be made available for key staff, maybe that's behind it.
The reports I think I previously mentioned about motorhomes not being allowed across the Portuguese/Spanish border were apparently possibly incorrect, if you were a resident of another EU country (incl UK) and were trying to get home.
There is a fair amount of (maybe not deliberate) misinformation, misinterpreted information and plain hearsay out there so it's difficult for work out the wheat from the chaff, especially when you are depending on Google translation (which actually is remarkably good).
Portugal is in a state of emergency as of this afternoon. That means the emergency powers have been signed off. A meeting of ministers tomorrow will determine what measures they will invoke. At the moment I am still more than 50% hopeful that our flight will run on Friday evening.
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